Business & Finance

We’ve been sharing regular updates on our work to reduce the 2026-27 budget by $8 million while maintaining long-term financial stability. This week, we are focusing on two factors that directly inform those decisions: our latest enrollment data and early insights from the Superintendent’s Advisory Leadership Team.

We continue our work to develop a balanced budget for the 2026-27 school year. As shared in October, Highline will need to reduce spending by $8 million to maintain long-term financial stability. Department leaders are reviewing budgets now. We will also identify districtwide efficiencies and gather input from staff, families, students and community members. Monthly updates will be shared at School Board meetings throughout the year.

We are beginning early planning for an estimated $8 million budget reduction in the 2026–27 school year. In a message to staff this week, Superintendent Duran shared that while enrollment is steady and the district remains financially stable today, state and federal funding continue to fall short of covering rising costs. 

This fall, Highline voters will see Highline’s Prop. 1 on their ballots. The levy funds programs, services and staff—filling the gap between what the state provides and what is needed to operate schools.  

On July 2, the Highline School Board unanimously voted to place a local funding measure on the November 2025 ballot. If approved by voters, the levy would renew local funding for educational programs, services and staff — filling the gap between what the state provides and what’s needed to support all Highline students. 

The proposed 2025-26 budget includes no major cuts, thanks to stable enrollment and past reductions. But gaps in state funding remain. Share your input in our online ThoughtExchange and speak at the public hearing on June 25. 

Learn about Highline’s proposed 2025–26 budget and share your input during an upcoming public hearing. While our financial outlook remains stable, key areas of state underfunding continue to present challenges. Join us at the budget work session and public hearing to stay informed and get involved.

Highline’s financial outlook for the 2025-26 school year remains stable, thanks to steady student enrollment and past budget adjustments. However, key areas of underfunding from the state continue. 

This month, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s new two-year state budget into law. While the budget includes some increased investments in areas like special education and operational costs, we continue to face substantial funding gaps from the state that impact our ability to fully support all students.  

With limited relief from the state legislature, we anticipate additional budget reductions will need to take place in future years.  

The State Auditor’s Office gave Highline Public Schools a clean audit in its most recent review of the district’s financial operations and federal grant programming.    

Highline's financial outlook remains stable due to steady student enrollment and past budget adjustments. The School Board held a work session on Wednesday, March 5 about the budget development process. The next steps for the 2025-26 budget include working with leaders on school and department budgets, additional board updates in April and May, final budget development and a public hearing in June before submission to OSPI.  

You’re invited to explore the results of January’s ThoughtExchange on our budget development process. More than 330 ideas were shared and rated nearly 13,000 times by 360 participants. A strong majority—69%—reported having at least some knowledge of the budget development process. Check out the top themes and all submitted thoughts in our interactive report. 

We are seeing an encouraging trend in student enrollment. Looking ahead, we anticipate a slight enrollment decline over the next two years, followed by growth as more housing developments are completed in our community. Our enrollment projections are critical in budget development. As we develop our budget for next year, we are seeking feedback on the most important considerations to support all students we should prioritize. Give your input today. 

In an op-ed in The Seattle Times, Highline Superintendent Ivan Duran and Clover Park Superintendent Ron Banner urge lawmakers to address Washington’s K-12 education funding crisis.